Semi-Automatic shotguns have excellent capabilities that make them perfect for anything from home defense to competition shooting.
If you are a beginner or a seasoned veteran, a semi-automatic tactical shotgun is an excellent addition to your collection.
Table of Contents
Benefits of a Semi-Automatic Tactical Shotgun
The three significant benefits of a semi-automatic tactical shotgun are speed, control, and ease of use.
Speed
It may seem obvious, but the major benefit of a semi-automatic shotgun is speed.
You can lay rounds down range fast and destroy your target.
Speed is especially beneficial for home defense.
Control
You will have to regain control after each pump with pump-action tactical shotguns.
While engaging your target with a semi-automatic, you can concentrate on your target with less movement.
Ease of Use
Semi-automatic shotguns are easy to use and offer a platform many users are comfortable shooting.
Below are the 8 Best Semi Auto Tactical Shotguns.
#1. IWI Tavor TS12 18.5″ 12 Gauge Tactical Shotgun Semi-Auto
- Caliber: 12 Gauge
- Chamber: 3”
- Capacity: 4 (3″), 5 (2-3/4″) Up to 15+1
- Barrel Length: 18.5”
- Overall Length: 28.34”
- Weight: 8 lbs
The IWI Tavor TS12 18.5” 12 Gauge Shotgun is a semi-automatic bullpup shotgun that is gas regulated with serious power and a compact design.
The Tavor TS12 will be one of the coolest bullpup shotguns that you will ever shoot with built-in high-capacity tubes.
When loading 2 ¾” rounds, you can load up to fifteen rounds simultaneously.
Each tube loads up to five rounds, and with a quick twist, you will have access to the next set of rounds.
It is configured for a right-handed shooter out of the box, but you could easily convert it for a lefty with ambidextrous feeding and unloading.
With a full-length Picatinny rail up top and multiple M-Lok anchoring points, you can easily add your favorite sights and accessories.
The bullpup design paired with an 18.5” chrome-lined barrel provides a compact 28.34” overall length.
It includes a Beretta-type choke and has an internally threaded muzzle.
If you want a tubular shotgun with a high capacity in a compact frame, the IWI Tavor TS12 18.5” 12 Gauge Shotgun is your best option.
It is available from Palmetto State Armory. Here’s where to buy it: www.PalmettoStateArmory.com
#2. Rock Island VR60 Tactical 12 Gauge Shotgun
- Caliber: 12 Gauge
- Chamber: 3”
- Capacity: 5+1
- Barrel Length: 20”
- Overall Length: 39”
- Weight: 7.4 lbs
The Rock Island VR60 Tactical 12 Gauge Shotgun is a budget-friendly AR-16 style semi-automatic shotgun with excellent features.
It has an aluminum alloy upper receiver and a high-quality polymer stock with a rubber butt pad for added comfort and control.
The VR60 is an excellent hunting, sport, or home defense shotgun with its easy-to-use design.
The upper receiver has a full-length Picatinny rail and comes with an M16 style carrying handle and front sight post.
It includes a mobile, full, modified, and improved cylinder chokes for a wide variety of spreads.
It includes a 20” barrel with an overall length of 39” at 7.4 lbs.
The package also includes a five-round magazine for a total capacity of 5+1.
If you want an affordable AR-16 style semi-automatic shotgun, the Rock Island VR60 Tactical 12 Gauge Shotgun is an excellent choice.
It is available from Palmetto State Armory. Here’s where to buy it: www.PalmettoStateArmory.com
#3. JTS M12AK 12 Gauge 18″ Semi-Auto Tactical Shotgun
- Caliber: 12 Gauge
- Chamber: 3”
- Capacity: 5+1
- Barrel Length: 18.7”
- Overall Length: 39.37”
- Weight: 9.6 lbs
Another one of the best semi auto shotguns is none other then JTS M12AK 12 GA 18″.
The JTS M12AK 12 GA 18” Semi-Auto Shotgun is an affordable AK-47 style shotgun perfect for hunting, target practice, and home defense.
It has a 4-position gas system to adjust your shotgun for different loads and can shoot everything from sub-1 ounce 2-3/4” shells up to 3” slugs.
It has an 18.7” chrome-lined barrel, is Remington choke compatible, and the pistol grip and trigger assembly are AK compatible.
The package includes two five-round magazines, but is compatible with larger capacity Saiga and SGM Tactical magazines.
It has a built-in Picatinny rail and comes equipped with modified AK sights.
The JTS M12AK 12 GA 18” Semi-Auto Shotgun is perfect for any shooter that wants an AK-style shotgun on a budget.
It is available from Palmetto State Armory. Here’s where to buy it: www.PalmettoStateArmory.com
#4. Kalashnikov Komrad 12 Gauge 12.5″ W/ Brace
- Caliber: 12 Gauge
- Chamber: 2 ¾”, 3”
- Capacity: 5+1
- Barrel Length: 12.5”
- Overall Length: 31.5”
- Weight: 7.85 lbs
The Komrad 12GA by Kalashnikov U.S.A. is an excellent home defense firearm you can take in the field for hunting or sport shooting.
With an overall length of 31.5 inches, it is a super compact firearm that delivers devastating firepower.
With an AK-style frame with a 12.5” threaded muzzle barrel, you get some unique features not found on the typical semi-automatic tactical shotgun.
It has a pistol grip shotgun with an SBA3 pistol brace and a tri-rail on the front for accessories.
The package includes two five-round magazines, but it is compatible with high-capacity Saiga magazines.
It also comes with a polymer foregrip for better control, recoil mitigation, and accuracy.
The firearm includes a black hardshell case for easy transportation.
If you are looking for a compact AK-style shotgun that is easily customized with Saiga components, the Komrad 12GA by Kalashnikov U.S.A. is an excellent choice.
It is available from Brownells. Here’s where to buy it: www.Brownells.com
#5. Panzer Arms BP12 Gen2 Semi-Auto 12 Gauge Bullpup Shotgun
- Caliber: 12 Gauge
- Chamber: 3”
- Capacity: 5+1
- Barrel Length: 20”
- Overall Length: 30.7”
- Weight: 10 lbs
The Panzer Arms BP12 Gen2 is a semi-automatic bullpup that is compact and easy to handle.
What is really amazing is that with a total length of 30.7” twenty of it is the barrel offering improved accuracy for such a compact tactical shotgun.
It includes an oversized charging handle for assault rifle-style chambering and a side charging handle for AK-style controls.
However, the overall design of the shotgun has AR-style features, including QD sling swivels or standard upfront under-barrel shroud, polymer flip-up sights, and Picatinny rails up top and on the sides near the barrel shroud.
It also includes an angled foregrip for improved accuracy and control right out of the box.
The stock has an adjustable cheek riser for improved comfort and sight picture.
The weight is in the weapon’s rear for a comfortable shooting experience.
With a thick butt pad and an ergonomic design, the recoil is mitigated for faster follow on shots.
Its ambidextrous design makes it an excellent shotgun for left- or right-handed shooters.
If you are looking for a semi-automatic shotgun for close-quarters combat or home defense, the Panzer Arms BP12 Gen2 semi-automatic bullpup is a simple choice.
It is available from Palmetto State Armory. Here’s where to buy it: www.PalmettoStateArmory.com
#6. Franchi Affinity 3.5 12 Gauge
- Caliber: 12 Gauge
- Chamber: 3.5”
- Capacity: 4+1
- Barrel Length: 28”
- Overall Length: 49.5”
- Weight: 7 lbs
The Franchi – Affinity 3.5 12 Gauge was designed with the hunter in mind.
It includes an enlarged loading area, bolt release, and charging handle, which is convenient if you are wearing gloves or if your hands are cold.
The Affinity 3.5 also has an upgraded ejection port where 3.5” rounds will easily toss the rounds out.
The Inertia Driven system paired with the TSA pad absorbs up to 50% of recoil for smooth follow-up shots.
You can get the spread you want with three different chokes and an included choke install tool.
It has a 4+1 round capacity and a 28” chrome-lined barrel with a Cerakote finish, which is perfect for waterfowl or deer season.
It also comes in three different finishes: Bronze, Max 5 Camo, and Bottomland Camo.
They built it to last with a 7-year original owner warranty.
If you want an excellent waterfowl tactical shotgun and don’t want to break your bank, the Franchi – Affinity 3.5 12 Gauge is a perfect choice.
It is available from Brownells. Here’s where to buy it: www.Brownells.com
#7. Benelli USA SBE III 12 Gauge
- Caliber: 12 Gauge
- Chamber: 2 ¾”, 3”
- Capacity: 3+1
- Barrel Length: 26”, 28”
- Overall Length: 47.75”, 49.75”
- Weight: 6.9 lbs
The Benelli Super Black Eagle III 12 Gauge is a professional tier hunting shotgun that can take your waterfowl game to the next level.
It features a Comfort Tech 3 stock, which turns the whole stock into a recoil pad providing excellent recoil mitigation, and it features a cheek comb pad that reduces facial impact and vibrations.
They have tested the Inertia Driven system, which cycles rounds seamlessly and can fire over 500,000+ rounds without a glitch.
Hunters know the challenge of handling their tactical shotgun with gloves on, and the oversized bolt handle and safety make operating your weapon effortless.
The Super Black Eagle III 12 Gauge is treated with a B.E.S.T. (Benelli Surface Treatment) finish, stopping rust and corrosion.
The downside to the SBE III is that you are paying a premium cost for its advanced features.
If you are a serious waterfowler and want the best tactical shotgun available, the Benelli Super Black Eagle III 12 gauge is your go-to shotgun.
It is available from Brownells. Here’s where to buy it: www.Brownells.com
#8. Panzer Arms AR-Twelve 12 Gauge
- Caliber: 12 Gauge
- Chamber: 2 ¾”, 3”
- Capacity: 5+1
- Barrel Length: 18.5”
- Overall Length: 39.75”
- Weight: 8.12 lbs
With the Panzer Arms AR-Twelve 12 Gauge, you get a highly reliable AR-style tactical shotgun at an affordable price.
It comes with many of the same features of an AR-15 frame minus the AR-style charging handle.
It has flip-up sights and a Picatinny rail on the upper receiver to add a red dot sight, and it includes quad-rails upfront for accessories such as a laser or foregrip.
There are several M-Lok anchor points for even more customization.
The AR-Twelve has a polymer stock with a rubber butt pad and an adjustable cheek plate.
It comes with two five-round magazines and can chamber 2 ¾” and 3” rounds.
The Panzer Arms AR-Twelve 12 Gauge shines at home defense, but it also makes an excellent sport firearm.
It is available from Brownells. Here’s where to buy it: www.Brownells.com
#9. Benelli M4 Tactical Shotgun 12 Gauge 18.5″
- Caliber: 12 Gauge
- Chamber: 2 ¾”, 3”
- Capacity: 5+1
- Barrel Length: 18.5”
- Overall Length: 40”
- Weight: 7.8 lbs
The Benelli M4 Tactical Shotgun 12GA 18.5” is the combat shotgun of choice for the United States Marine Corps.
Benelli equipped it with the Auto Regulation Gas Operated (A.R.G.O) system, which is a self-cleaning, piston-driven action where the pistons push directly against the bolt for minimum vibration and faster operation.
It has a synthetic stock with a pistol grip, a ghost ring rear sight with a blade front sight, and a Picatinny rail for optics.
They have thrown the M4 Tactical in the mud, exposed it to extreme temperatures, and proved its reliability in combat through a battery of tests.
A downside to the Benelli M4 Tactical Shotgun 12GA 18.5” is that it is expensive compared to other shotguns on this list.
The Benelli M4 Tactical Shotgun 12GA 18.5” is a solid choice for a home defense weapon with its history of being reliable in combat.
It is available from Palmetto State Armory. Here’s where to buy it: www.PalmettoStateArmory.com
#10. Benelli USA Ethos Supersport 12 Gauge Shotgun
- Caliber: 12 Gauge
- Chamber: 2 ¾”, 3”
- Capacity: 4+1
- Barrel Length: 30”
- Overall Length: 51.5”
- Weight: 7 lbs
The Ethos Supersport 12 Gauge by Benelli U.S.A. is an impressive semi-automatic shotgun that is 51.5” long and has a 30” barrel that weighs only seven pounds.
It has a beautiful carbon fiber finish that is weather-resistant.
The hardware is oversized to allow simple operation with gloves on.
It has a polymer stock with the Comfort Tech 3 recoil-reduction system, which provides superior recoil management.
It also includes a cheek comb pad for reduced vibration and facial impact.
Both the cheek pad and the butt pad are customizable and can be swapped out for improved fit and comfort.
It includes a front fiber optic sight and a mid barrel bead for instinctive aiming.
The 30” ported barrel provides improved accuracy and reduced recoil and muzzle jump.
On the bottom of the mag tube, it includes the shell view system, which is a window with a red indicator to show how many rounds you have left in the tube.
The package includes five extended choke tubes for a custom spread.
The Ethos Supersport 12 Gauge by Benelli U.S.A. is an excellent tactical shotgun perfect for upland hunting and competitive clay shooting.
It is available from Brownells. Here’s where to buy it: www.Brownells.com
References
Pump vs. Semi: Which Shotgun is Better for Personal Defense?
Types of Shotgun Shells: 3 Need-to-Know Basics
See Also
He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 2004 and has served over 18 years as a communications maintenance technician with three deployments to the Middle East.
He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English and Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University and a bachelor’s degree in Information System Security with a concentration in Digital Forensics from American Military University.
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